From the Pastures: Fair season is here

It is that magical time of the year — August fair season. In a lot of ways, I look forward to the fair more than Christmas. 4-H has always been a big part of my family. This year, my granddaughter has the opportunity to do a lot of firsts with her 4-H club. She is really excited about working in the 4-H food stand. I am not sure she understands how much work this is going to be. Her club’s shift is during the busy bull-riding event. I am sure she will do great.

The mill has been very busy with a lot of fiber from the spring shearing. Currently, we have several different breeds of sheep’s wool to work with. It is interesting how not all wool is the same. Some breeds have a lot more lanolin in the wool than others. The wool with a lot of lanolin needs to go through the washing process twice, which takes more time.

We always take the extra step so the roving or yarn is the best it can be. Leaving lanolin in the wool when it is processed causes little bumps. These are called noils and will cause the yarn to be bumpy, also. While the bumps can add texture to the yarn, not all knitting patterns are made for this type of yarn. Most customers prefer smoother yarn.

I have had a chance to do a lot of dying for batts. Now I can begin the process of blending the colors. It is always fun to see what combinations look the best. Once the batts are made, they will be felted and can be used for several different projects.

Next month is the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. The second weekend in September always sneaks up on me. It is a great opportunity to learn more about sheep and fiber arts. The location is the fairgrounds in Jefferson, Wisconsin, if you are interested in attending.

Happy August!